The Great Game Changer: Belt and Road Intiative (BRI; OBOR)

[TaiShang]

China expected to take larger role in global governance amid calls for de-globalization: report
September 22, 2016
By Jiang Jie
People's Daily

China’s provision of public goods to the world is expected to be strengthened, a recent report predicted. It is also expected that China will take a more active role in the global governance process, especially given the current climate of de-globalization.

The short-term plan focuses on promoting the sustainable growth of the global economy, including improvement of the Financial Stability Board, the establishment of a G20 Secretariat and construction of a Belt and Road Initiative “in which China and Asia will play the leading role to reinvigorate the economy and enhance regional cooperation,” according to the States’ Participation Index of Global Governance (SPIGG) World Report, issued on Sept. 22.

"China has benefited from globalization 1.0, wherein international organizations have supported China's development. Now it's an era of globalization 2.0, but the trend of de-globalization has taken shape ... Global governance at this time is no longer about international organizations but also countries. China is playing a more active role in the process," said Wang Huiyao, director of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG).

“Global governance reform requires China to play a role and share its wisdom. It is unimaginable for China to be absent from the world development agenda, climate change talks, IMF reform, counter-terrorism efforts, cyberspace security and other key global governance issues,” the SPIGG report noted, referencing China’s principle of non-interference in internal affairs and the nation’s efforts to bring mutual benefits.

“These two rules are very impressive. I want to point out that we are sticking to our principle of non-interference in internal affairs, but we are also protecting our interests and the safety of our people and property,” said Wang Shijie, former Chinese ambassador to Iran.

“Foreign interference is one of the key causes of chaos in the Middle East, as major nations provoke wars in the region … It will be very crucial for [effective] global economic governance and maintaining stable economic development, as it is also a main reason for the chaos,” Wang said.

Huang Xueqi, former secretary general of the China General Chamber of Commerce, U.S.A., pointed out that China used to avoid speaking out on topics like global governance due to a lack of economic and politic power.

“The fact that we are proposing it proves that we are now capable of contributing on this matter … But how our proposals such as the Belt and Road Initiative turn out is still reliant on national development,” Huang said.

These remarks were made at a seminar held by CCG, the Political Science Institute of East China under the University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL) and China International Publishing Group. The report, compiled by ECUPL, was also released at the seminar.

China currently ranks fourth in the SPIGG report, which analyzes 190 sovereign states across the globe to study their participation in and contribution to global governance. While the average score was 287, China earned a whopping 600.7. China came after only France, the U.K. and the U.S., with the U.S. scoring 770 in total – 108 points higher than its closest competitor.

SPIGG analyzed four main factors: mechanism, performance, decision-making and responsibilities. The organization determined that factors constitute a solid basis for understanding a nation’s role in the world.

While remarkable transformations have lately taken place in economic growth and soft power, a significant gap still remains between China and other Western leaders. Nevertheless, Huo Jianguo, former director of international trade and economic cooperation at the Ministry of Commerce, pointed out that world leadership is something to be gained gradually, through individual cases.

 

[Cossack25A1]

So, what's your personal opinion about the coup plot? against it or secretly support it?

Even though I am against Duterte's tirades against the US and the UN, I do not support any coup plots.

So what are the ruling families in your country planning to do about him?

None for now despite some rumors of an impeachment.

 

[Pinoy]

The rich elite don't I bet. And Philippines is run by a small cabal of rich and powerful families just like other Hispanic legacy countries. They won't stand idly by as their fortunes plummet.

You mean the oligarchs? FYI the Philippines is not as poor as your country or like Cambodia where it killed millions of its people, that never and will never happen in the Philippines, even in Marcos regime... it was just all black propaganda by World media run by the West and antis who are sponsored by oligarchs. God will damn the souls of these evil oligarchs!

Thanks to President Rodrigo Duterte who is waging a war not only against illegal drugs but also against oligarchs whom he described as “monsters.”

they worship him right now

The world is so used in seeing dishonest and pretentious leaders that when they see an honest one they all loses their minds. President Duterte is brutally frank, non pretentious, honest president. We (Filipinos) love our President and we are damn proud of him.

 

[Three_Kingdoms]

A meeting of two ancient empires: How did two Chinese skeletons find their way into a Roman cemetery in London?

• Archaeologists analysed 22 skeletons from a Roman cemetery in London
• The remains were buried there between the 2nd and 4th Centuries AD
• Two of the skeletons have a morphology that suggests Asian ancestry
• It suggests the links between China and Rome were stronger than believed

By RICHARD GRAY FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 09:05 GMT, 23 September 2016 | UPDATED: 15:22 GMT, 23 September 2016
They were two powerful, ancient empires separated by more than 5,000 miles of imposing mountain ranges, barren desert and exposed steppe grasslands.

Yet a collection of seemingly unremarkable bones discovered in a Roman cemetery in London has provided new insights into the links between the Roman Empire and Imperial China.

Analysis has revealed that two skeletons dating from between the 2nd and 4th Century AD unearthed at the site in the city's Southwark area may have been Chinese.

Scroll down for video

Analysis of skeletons found in a Roman cemetery in south London (pictured) have revealed that two of the people buried there between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD had Asian ancestry and were possibly from China. It provides new evidence of the links between the empires


ROMES LINKS WITH CHINA
They were arguably the two most powerful civilisations of the time.

The Roman conquest of Egypt in 30BC saw trade with China flourish.

While the Silk Road trade route had been delivering cloth, spices and other luxuries to the west for centuries before, the new wealth and fashions of the Roman brought unprecedented demand.

Much of this trade was initially done through Greece and India, but later also through the Parthian Empire.

The Roman Senate, however, saw this trade as a threat on both economic and moral grounds.

Senica the Younger described how silk cloth appeared to have a corrupting influence on the bodies of women and said the material did not 'hide the body, nor even one's decency'.

The findings promise to rewrite the history of the Romans as it suggests these two great empires had far greater connections than previously believed.

While it is known that there was extensive trade between China and ancient Rome along what became known as the Silk Road, the two empires are thought to have viewed each other warily.

Accounts from the time suggest the Chinese were curious about the 'tall and virtuous' people of Rome, while the Romans found their rivals in the east mysterious but valued their silk cloth.

Despite the trade between the empires, however, only one person of Asian ancestry has ever been found on sites dating back to the Roman Empire – an adult man unearthed at Vagnari in Italy.

But now research led by the Museum of London has revealed two more individuals of Asian ancestry, buried among the remains of other citizens of ancient Londinium.

According to the Times, while experts have not been able to identify their exact origins, it is likely these people had come from China.

Writing in the Journal of Archaeological Science, Dr Rebecca Redfern, an archaeologist at the Museum of London, said how they ended up there is a mystery.

She and her colleagues said: 'The expansion of the Roman Empire across most of western Europe and the Mediterranean, led to the assimilation and movement of many ethnically and geographically diverse communities

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...ry-promise-rewrite-history.html#ixzz4LcSJX5bJ
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

 

[TaiShang]

Alataw Pass: Largest land port on Kazakhstan border in China's Xinjiang

Xinhua | 2016-09-28

The Sino-Kazakh boder gate is seen at the Alataw Pass in northwest China's Xinjiang Region, July 28, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)

A railway station is seen at the Alataw Pass in northwest China's Xinjiang Region, July 28, 2016. China's far western Xinjiang Region is becoming better connected with the international community after the implementation of the Silk Road Economic Belt. Trade volume at Alataw Pass, the region's largest land port on the Kazakhstan border, reached 25 million tonnes in 2014, after an average annual growth of 27 percent since 1991. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)

People do shopping in a market in the Alataw Pass City, northwest China's Xinjiang Region, July 28, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)

Wine from Georgia is seen in a store in the bonded zone in Alataw Pass City, northwest China's Xinjiang Region, July 28, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)

Camels walk by railway at the Alataw Pass in northwest China's Xinjiang Region, July 28, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)

 

[beijingwalker]

Russia Assesses Relations With China as Best in History – Foreign Ministry
23:21 28.09.2016

Trust-based relations between Russian and Chinese leaders and unique partnership mechanisms have elevated the countries' relations to the highest level in history, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov said on Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – He expressed hope that bilateral relations in different dimensions would develop further. "Russia is sincerely delighted by China’s achievements, who is our strategic partner bilaterally and internationally. We truly appreciate our relations with the People’s Republic of China and consider them as the best in history," Morgunov said on the 67th anniversary of China’s founding. © AP PHOTO/ CHRISTOPHE ENA US Should Work Closely With China, Russia on North Korean Nuclear Issue - Kerry "The defining factor of the success of the relations development has been the establishment of regular, trust-based contacts between the leaders, and the formation of partnership mechanisms that our countries have with no other states," the deputy foreign minister said. In May, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov characterized the state of partnership between Russia and China as the best example of intergovernmental relations.

https://sputniknews.com/world/20160928/1045809761/russia-china-relations.html

 

[barbarosa]

We pay tribute to both the Nations for their strong relation ship with each others.

 

[ahojunk]

China-Eurasia Expo closes, 18 bln USD contracts signed
2016-09-26 13:12 | Xinhua | Editor: Xu Shanshan

A total of 18 billion U. S. dollars worth of contracts were signed during the fifth China-Eurasia Expo in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

During the expo, held from September 20 to 25, contracts were signed covering areas such as science, agriculture, mineral resources, energy, manufacturing and finance. A total of 16 corporate finance cooperation projects were signed.

Delegates from 57 countries and regions and six international organizations attended the expo, along with 3,500 professional purchasers. A total of 2,192 companies, including 418 overseas firms, took part in the expo.

The previous expo saw 6 billion U.S. dollars worth of foreign trade contracts signed with Chinese companies.

Li Jingyuan, head of the expo's secretariat, said the expo further strengthened Xinjiang's overseas cooperation, and played an increasingly important role in promoting the Silk Road Economic Belt construction.

 

[JayMandan]

It's sad but the international community is CLUELESS of what is really going on inside the Philippines.

You mean the oligarchs? FYI the Philippines is not as poor as your country or like Cambodia where it killed millions of its people, that never and will never happen in the Philippines, even in Marcos regime... it was just all black propaganda by World media run by the West and antis who are sponsored by oligarchs. God will damn the souls of these evil oligarchs!

Thanks to President Rodrigo Duterte who is waging a war not only against illegal drugs but also against oligarchs whom he described as “monsters.”


The world is so used in seeing dishonest and pretentious leaders that when they see an honest one they all loses their minds. President Duterte is brutally frank, non pretentious, honest president. We (Filipinos) love our President and we are damn proud of him.

 

[ahojunk]

The world is so used in seeing dishonest and pretentious leaders that when they see an honest one they all loses their minds. President Duterte is brutally frank, non pretentious, honest president. We (Filipinos) love our President and we are damn proud of him.

It's sad but the international community is CLUELESS of what is really going on inside the Philippines.

.
I enjoy reading your responses which is different to the reports by western media.

Basically, western media is doing a character assassination of Duterte. I don't remember reading a story from western media praising your president.

As usual there are two sides to a story. We should look at both sides before jumping to conclusion.

What matters most is what pinoys think.

 

[ahojunk]

THE BUZZ
The Great Russia-China Oil Alliance Is Here (And Why It Matters)
Tao Wang, Nationalinterest.og
September 30, 2016

China used to call Russia its ‘older brother’. But never again since the fall of the USSR. In an effort to portray its status as a less powerful yet assuredly more senior neighbour, Russian officials have recently begun referring to their country as China’s ‘elder sister’. The new term has proven less popular in China.

Whatever familial phrase these nations eventually settle on, it is increasingly clear to policymakers and analysts that the rapprochement between Moscow and Beijing is one of the most important trends in global politics since 2014. The two powers’ deepening accord has the potential to significantly shift the direction of geopolitics in North and Northeast Asia.

Russia signed a major oil export deal with China in 2009, agreeing to supply 15 million tonnes per annum through the East Siberia–Pacific Ocean pipeline. Since then, China’s energy cooperation with Russia seemed to always leave a bitter taste — until 2014. The catalyst for better relations was the crisis in Ukraine, which estranged Russia from the West. Moscow faced substantial capital outflows and uncertainty around its energy exports to the European Union. China became the only option. Moscow has since opened up to energy investment from China, removing a number of key restrictions on investing in oil and gas resources on Russian soil.

Increasing oil imports from Russia seems to make good sense to the Chinese leadership now that their territorial dispute with multiple countries in the South China Sea is intensifying. The long-argued ‘Malacca dilemma’ — China’s dependence on imports travelling through the narrow Malacca Strait between Malaysia and Indonesia — seems to finally have its manifesto. Despite a lack of real evidence that choking China’s oil imports in the world’s busiest strait is feasible or even possible, Russian oil exported through pipelines and trains certainly looks like a safer option.

For Russia, China’s oil bill has played a key role in holding up the country’s weak economy, especially since the European Union turned its back on Russian gas. But as with all new dancing partners, there are bound to be missteps.

The collapse in oil prices since 2014 surprised both nations and hurt most oil exporters’ economies. Russia has been among the worst hit. Oil and gas exports account for 50 per cent of its federal budget and 70 per cent of export revenues before the collapse of oil prices in 2014. The huge gas deal signed with China in 2014 is price indexed to oil. Though the exact formula has not been revealed, the price informing the agreement would now be in a very different range from when the deal was inked.

China, too, is hardly in economic paradise.

The ‘new normal’ of China’s economic transition is far from stabilized. Premier Li Keqiang has repeatedly called for progress in addressing under-performing ‘zombie’ enterprises and overcapacity in heavy industries. Fiscal and financial measures to ratchet up China’s economy could be directed to innovation and productivity growth, instead of being wasted on putting these incompetent firms on life support. High debt among state-owned enterprises (SOEs) is hurting the government’s ability to propel economic growth while investment from the private sector decelerates sharply.

On the other hand, slow growth in heavy industries has seen China’s diesel demand decline consistently over the last few years. Car-clogged cities and the rise of electric vehicles also suggest dimming prospects for petrol demand growth. Competition for the Chinese oil market will only get fiercer as oil producers fail to freeze output and the world’s largest growing market faces huge uncertainty. None of these developments are in Russia’s interests.

But China and Russia’s dance will go on as long the game of international power continues.

China and Russia are still complementary economies. One is rich in resources and high military technology, while the other is good at mass manufacturing and rich in cash. This complementarity is well demonstrated by their partnership in Central Asia, where China provides investment in resource-rich yet unpredictable countries while Russia ensures the stability of ruling regimes. Facing increasing pressure from both east and west, it is unlikely that either China or Russia will seek to change this partnership any time soon, though the countries’ willingness and ability may not always match.

Russia has become a surprising beneficiary of China’s deepening oil sector reform. The Chinese government granted approximately 80 million tonnes of crude oil import quota to a number of qualified ‘teapot’ refineries in Shandong province, an area that previously was only open to China’s national oil companies (NOCs). The move was an attempt to introduce an element of competition to the oil sector. As a result, over 90 per cent of China’s oil import growth in the first half of 2016 was driven by these teapot refineries.

Energy ties between China and Russia reflect mutual demands for cooperation in political, security and economic dimensions. They cannot be viewed as driven by only one of them.

For both nations, opaque decision-making processes in government as well as in each country’s powerful NOCs mean that good bilateral communication and understanding are not always ensured. Sometimes their interests may be at odds.

Uncertainty surrounding the progress of China’s economic transition, SOE reform and future developments in energy technology could lead to a range of very different scenarios. These developments could either reinforce or destroy energy ties between China and Russia. But in the years to come, the world should not be surprised to see more energy deals signed by these two powers.

Tao Wang is Assistant Director of the Yicai Research Institute and a non-resident fellow at the Carnegie–Tsinghua Center.

 

[ahojunk]

China, Mongolia agree to cement comprehensive partnership
2016-10-01 23:30:27 Xinhua Web Editor: Meng Xue

Liu Yunshan (L), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Chairman of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP) Miyegombo Enkhbold, who is also chairman of the State Great Hural, Mongolia's parliament, in Ulan Bator, Mongolia,
Oct. 1, 2016. [Photo: Xinhua/Rao Aimin]​

Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Liu Yunshan met separately with Mongolian president and prime minister on Saturday, signalling a strong desire on both sides to cement ties in a comprehensive manner.

Liu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, started his visit to Ulan Bator Saturday morning.

In his meeting with Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, Liu first conveyed greetings and best regards from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During the state visit by President Xi in 2014, the two countries upgraded their bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership and the bilateral ties have since entered a new stage. The momentum should be cherished and maintained, said Liu.

"My visit is to implement the agreements made by top leaders of the two countries, help increase mutual understanding and promote cooperation in a bid to push forward the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership," said Liu.

Liu stressed that China highly values its relations with Mongolia and regards its ties with Mongolia as an important part of its neighborhood diplomacy.

Respecting each other's core interests lays the political foundation for the healthy and stable development of China-Mongolia relations, said Liu, adding that China respects Mongolia's state sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as the development path chosen by the Mongolian people.

China appreciates Mongolia's stance of upholding the one-China policy, Liu said.

China hopes the two sides will further strengthen political trust, jointly work for better connectivity along the border, enhance cooperation on ports, industrial capacity, and investment, among others, and maintain close coordination on major regional and global issues so as to safeguard common interests.

China is also willing to enhance coordination with Mongolia within the framework of the United Nations and it welcomes the Mongolian side to play a positive role in international and regional affairs.

For his Part, Elbegdorj said Mongolia will unswervingly pursue a friendly policy towards China, and continue to deepen political mutual trust and substantial cooperation with China in various fields.

While during his meeting with Mongolian Prime Minister Jargaltulga Erdenebat, Liu proposed that the two countries deepen exchanges at all levels, work for new progress on major projects, tap their economic complementarity and create a stable and better investment environment.

China encourages cooperation with Mongolia in supporting the Silk Road Fund under the Belt and Road Initiative, said Liu.

Erdenebat spoke highly of the long-term Mongolia-China friendly cooperation, saying Mongolia will actively participate in China's proposals like the Belt and Road Initiative, interconnectivity and production capacity cooperation.

The Mongolian side appreciates China's consistent assistance, and will advance cooperation with China in such areas as mineral resources, infrastructure, currency-swap, farm produce processing and cross-border transportation, said Erdenebat.

Earlier, Liu also met with Chairman of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP) Miyegombo Enkhbold, discussing party-to-party and cultural exchanges. Enkhbold is also chairman of the State Great Hural, Mongolia's parliament.

On the same day, Liu also attended a launch ceremony of a joint cultural program, which introduces Chinese TV dramas to Mongolia.

 

[Shotgunner51]

First rail shuttle between Rotterdam and China launches

Monday 3rd October 2016

The Port of Rotterdam has announced that the first rail service between China and the Netherlands is now in full operation.

The Chengdu-Tilburg-Rotterdam-Express, which was launched by the Chinese rail operator CDiRS, is claimed to reach its destination ‘door-to-door’ in 15 days.

According to the port, while the rail shuttle is currently a weekly service, the CDiRS and its Dutch partner RailPortbrabant aim to increase the service to five times a week starting from late 2017.

The Chinese cities linked by the service include Shanghai, Ningbo, Wuhan, Yiwu, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Nanning and Kunming.

The service, which crosses Kazakhstan and Moscow, also offers railway connections to Vietnam and South Korea.

Allard Castelein, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, said: “By sea, Rotterdam is already the most important European destination of Chinese cargo. Thanks to this shuttle, we are now also adding a fast connection by land.”

He added: “We strongly believe in this concept, partly because a large part of Europe can efficiently be reached via the excellent short sea connections from Rotterdam. And vice versa, of course.”

Roland Verbraak, general manager of RailPortbrabant’s parent company GVT Group of Logistics, pointed out that cargo from China is often shipped by short sea from the Port of Rotterdam to the UK, Scandinavia and Portugal.

http://container-mag.com/2016/10/03/first-rail-shuttle-rotterdam-china-launches-2/

@ahojunk see whether you wanna merge this with railway or OBOR thread.

 

[ahojunk]

@Shotgunner51

Let's leave this thread as is, for people to have a discussion.

Will merge later after the discussion (so as to leave the main thread "clean" and as a repository.)

--------

The OBOR or Belt & Road Initiative is fast taking shape.

There are now multiple freight train routes from various cities in China to different cities in Europe. There is also a train service to Afghanistan too!

The main beneficiaries are those countries who are participants of OBOR.

With OBOR, the inland western regions of China are also benefiting.

 

[TaiShang]

China promotes sci-tech cooperation along Belt and Road
October 04, 2016, Xinhua


BEIJING, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government has released a plan on scientific and technological (S&T) cooperation between China and countries along the Belt and Road.

China plans to set up joint labs, research centers, tech transfer centers and S&T parks with countries along the Belt and Road in the next three to five years, according to a document issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce.

The government also aims to bring over 150,000 S&T personnel from those countries to China for exchanges or training, and expects to receive more than 5,000 young scientists during the same period.

Basic cooperation plans should be made with key countries, and memorandums or agreements signed, the document read.

According to a mid-term objective set in the document, the government will expand S&T cooperation from surrounding countries to a larger region in the next ten years, assisting cooperation platforms and major projects to make progress.

The Belt and Road initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes.